Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Key to a Successful Linux Conversion

People are resistant to change. This is a fact and it is not going to change any time soon. Because of this they will not want their entire computer to change on them all at once. An important fact that a lot Linux Advocates miss is that the conversion to Linux starts on Windows or OSX.

A beautiful things about FOSS is that a good deal of the applications run on Windows, OSX, and Linux. The key to a successful Linux conversion is slowly replacing the productivity software a person uses on their operating system with FOSS alternatives. To most a computer is simply a tool. Meaning if a person is not able to accomplish their task(s) using the FOSS software then maybe Linux is not such a good idea. If this turns out to be the case, reverting back to the old software they used before is as simple as reinstalling an application (instead of reinstalling an operating system). If a person is able to use the FOS applications with out issues (and I've found most times they can) then your conversion is half over.

Once they become accustomed to using Firefox, OpenOffice, The GIMP, and other wonderful FOS applications changing the operating system these run on is simply a minor inconvenience (Most people don't even know what an operating system is, many think "Office" and "Windows" are the same thing). Finally when you do change the operating system on the computer to Linux, do your best to setup the GUI to look similar to the operating system that was on the system previously (Zorin 3 has skins that allow it to look WinXP, Windows 7, and OSX fairly well). If there are enough similarities most users will be able to make the change without complaint.

What do you think the key is to someone being able to successfully make the jump to Linux?

18 comments:

I've personally helped convert about 2 dozen people to Linux. Basically, the MOST important things are:

* It helps to have a pro do the initial conversion of data, initial setup, initial tuning and tweaking PLUS install VirtualBox or the like and a copy of Windows XP.

* They have to be pissed off enough (usually due to a major virus infestation!) to be able to tolerate weird little differences at first.

And...yeah, really, that's it when we're talking about non-technical users.

In my case, I was a long-time CP/M-to-DOS-to-Windows geek with zero Unix-family experience. Sept. of 2006 my XP laptop got nailed hard by an early rootkit. Spent three days trying to de-louse it, finally just said "no, ain't doing this again, no way, hell no" and loading Ubuntu Dapper. Never once looked back.

In our office we've converted over 100 people to linux in the last year by first moving everyone to OpenOffice and Mozilla Firefox/Thunderbird on MS windows. Then we just sat and waited for a virus to trash windows. Doesn't take long.

People always have something they are frustrated about.The smoothest way to do this is simply to bring out a solution to their problems. I have a bunch of machines with problematic Windows installations in my office, and since we mostly do remote desktop work, they are currently well served with Linux Mint.But then, I am the office manager, so this is what they get.

The Key to a Successful Linux Conversion is use Virtual Box, that way they can jump back and forth to what ever operating system they want without a problem, it's That simple. Linux has the means to do anything and everything if one takes the time to think about it

MS have been trying to get windows OS and software to work 100% for the passed 30 plus years and never managed it, and when it comes to windows upgrades everything needs upgrading hardware included, nothing is perfect. With Linux at leased it's free so there is no financial loss encountered

I think the key is having ways that the person can address the problem themselves.

Documentation is an awesome thing. Its not a sexy thing so it usually gets skipped over.

I do think FOSS alternatives on Windows/Mac is a great starting point. However I think in order for it to be capitalized on the user should be aware that they are using FOSS software. Im not sure how to make the user aware of that with out annoying them....

I think the first, and foremost thing is listening. I mean firstly do THEY want/need to change to Linux? If not leave them alone. Convert those who are interested or who have a good reason to move to Linux.

Next, listen for their level of geek. For instance, it's not uncommon to find people with $2,000 and up mac lappies who are comfortable browsing and emailing - but that is it 90% of all they ever do. Anything like saving a file to a directory is SCARY. You HAVE to know that if you are going to be converting people - what their level of geek is and what THEY will use it for.

I say listening is crucial because if you set up a computer for someone the way you want/need it - but it doesn't fit for that user - well it's a good recipe for a failed convert.

For users who are doing the most basic things - don't give them a lot of choice - i.e. only one desktop. One simple menu or a clear easy to use dock. Make all their most basic needs EASILY and readily accessible. Doesn't hurt to make it pretty too.

For users who are a bit more adventuresome, you can be more flexible. But I think many of the most important converts will be people who really do just use computers as a tool - NOT as a geek box.

Many of us Linux users take for granted messing with permissions, and working @ the command line. So if we want that user to succeed with Linux - the one who will NEVER use the command line, we need to listen to facilitate their success.

My success with about 10,000 users came from:- Slowly load FOSS equivalents on windows, do lots of training and wait till people are comfortable.

- Then create a Linux system with a windows environment in a virtual machine that is similar to the desktop that they already have, also making sure the same FOSS applications are loaded on the Linux side. Make sure that the windows virtual machine is sharing the users Linux home directory as the windows virtual machine's My Documents folder. Do lots of training again. After a while people will find that it saves a little time and works better to just not boot into windows and user the Linux equivalent.... this step could take a year or two.

- Once people have gotten used to using the Linux desktop, change out the virtual machine for a version with only software that doesn't have a Linux equivalent. Then work on a plan to migrate off of the Windows only software, if at all possible.

- Once all of the software works in a pure Linux environment, eliminate the virtual machine image, but leave the virtual machine installed, and keep a windows image handy for the occasional need. By doing that you can have a working copy of Windows in place in about 5 minutes installing it remotely via ssh.

The most importing things I have found is that the person being converted NEEDS to be willing to convert. If they aren't wanting to convert or at least being told by someone over them that is wanting to convert that they will now be using this new system, then the conversion will almost always fail.

The potential convert should also be willing enough that they will spend at least a few seconds trying to figure out something new. Otherwise they will easily get it into their head that Linux doesn't do what they want it to do because the feature isn't in the exact same place as it is in windows and the conversion will fail. Ir in other words, if the say, "OK, sure, I'll give it a try", that might not be a good enough answer for a successful conversion.

You should always be willing and able to do training on a continual basis, remember that people get hired and fired all the time and the new hires probably won't be familiar with Linux. You might need to start off new people with your old Linux with windows virtual machine image. The nice thing is that you'll eventually have a lot more time on your hands to do training because of all the maintenance that Linux doesn't require.... Oh yeah, I forgot to mention to run the windows virtual machines with the hard drives set to immutable mode. That will keep them squeaky clean and turn them into a NO MAINTENANCE windows systems. It will make it a little annoying when it comes to installing new software on the windows system, but you are trying to move off of windows, so you shouldn't have to do that.

Lastly, be ready to help people install Linux on their home systems. I found that once people got used to Linux on their work systems they eventually realize that they never see or hear from "their tech guys" and that it would be awesome if their home system would just plain work all the time too.

My success with about 10,000 users came from: - Slowly load FOSS equivalents on windows, do lots of training and wait till people are comfortable.

- Then create a Linux system with a windows environment in a virtual machine that is similar to the desktop that they already have, also making sure the same FOSS applications are loaded on the Linux side. Make sure that the windows virtual machine is sharing the users Linux home directory as the windows virtual machine's My Documents folder. Do lots of training again. After a while people will find that it saves a little time and works better to just not boot into windows and user the Linux equivalent.... this step could take a year or two.

- Once people have gotten used to using the Linux desktop, change out the virtual machine for a version with only software that doesn't have a Linux equivalent. Then work on a plan to migrate off of the Windows only software, if at all possible.

- Once all of the software works in a pure Linux environment, eliminate the virtual machine image, but leave the virtual machine installed, and keep a windows image handy for the occasional need. By doing that you can have a working copy of Windows in place in about 5 minutes installing it remotely via ssh.

The most importing things I have found is that the person being converted NEEDS to be willing to convert. If they aren't wanting to convert or at least being told by someone over them that is wanting to convert that they will now be using this new system, then the conversion will almost always fail.

The potential convert should also be willing enough that they will spend at least a few seconds trying to figure out something new. Otherwise they will easily get it into their head that Linux doesn't do what they want it to do because the feature isn't in the exact same place as it is in windows and the conversion will fail. Ir in other words, if the say, "OK, sure, I'll give it a try", that might not be a good enough answer for a successful conversion.

You should always be willing and able to do training on a continual basis, remember that people get hired and fired all the time and the new hires probably won't be familiar with Linux. You might need to start off new people with your old Linux with windows virtual machine image. The nice thing is that you'll eventually have a lot more time on your hands to do training because of all the maintenance that Linux doesn't require.... Oh yeah, I forgot to mention to run the windows virtual machines with the hard drives set to immutable mode. That will keep them squeaky clean and turn them into a NO MAINTENANCE windows systems. It will make it a little annoying when it comes to installing new software on the windows system, but you are trying to move off of windows, so you shouldn't have to do that.

Lastly, be ready to help people install Linux on their home systems. I found that once people got used to Linux on their work systems they eventually realize that they never see or hear from "their tech guys" and that it would be awesome if their home system would just plain work all the time too.

My success with about 10,000 users came from: - Slowly load FOSS equivalents on windows, do lots of training and wait till people are comfortable.

- Then create a Linux system with a windows environment in a virtual machine that is similar to the desktop that they already have, also making sure the same FOSS applications are loaded on the Linux side. Make sure that the windows virtual machine is sharing the users Linux home directory as the windows virtual machine's My Documents folder. Do lots of training again. After a while people will find that it saves a little time and works better to just not boot into windows and user the Linux equivalent.... this step could take a year or two.

- Once people have gotten used to using the Linux desktop, change out the virtual machine for a version with only software that doesn't have a Linux equivalent. Then work on a plan to migrate off of the Windows only software, if at all possible.

- Once all of the software works in a pure Linux environment, eliminate the virtual machine image, but leave the virtual machine installed, and keep a windows image handy for the occasional need. By doing that you can have a working copy of Windows in place in about 5 minutes installing it remotely via ssh.

The most importing things I have found is that the person being converted NEEDS to be willing to convert. If they aren't wanting to convert or at least being told by someone over them that is wanting to convert that they will now be using this new system, then the conversion will almost always fail.

The potential convert should also be willing enough that they will spend at least a few seconds trying to figure out something new. Otherwise they will easily get it into their head that Linux doesn't do what they want it to do because the feature isn't in the exact same place as it is in windows and the conversion will fail. Ir in other words, if the say, "OK, sure, I'll give it a try", that might not be a good enough answer for a successful conversion.

You should always be willing and able to do training on a continual basis, remember that people get hired and fired all the time and the new hires probably won't be familiar with Linux. You might need to start off new people with your old Linux with windows virtual machine image. The nice thing is that you'll eventually have a lot more time on your hands to do training because of all the maintenance that Linux doesn't require.... Oh yeah, I forgot to mention to run the windows virtual machines with the hard drives set to immutable mode. That will keep them squeaky clean and turn them into a NO MAINTENANCE windows systems. It will make it a little annoying when it comes to installing new software on the windows system, but you are trying to move off of windows, so you shouldn't have to do that.

Lastly, be ready to help people install Linux on their home systems. I found that once people got used to Linux on their work systems they eventually realize that they never see or hear from "their tech guys" and that it would be awesome if their home system would just plain work all the time too.

Nice idea of making FOSS available on Windows. I have seen a full company of 2000 people got converted to Ubuntu, when they got notice from M$ to buy licenses for all the softwares they were using !!!!

1) Convince people to use OpenOffice, GIMP, InkScape, Audacity, VLC, 7zip and so on.

2) Replace Internet Exploder with Firefox or Chrome.

3) Move their ISP-based Outlook mail to GMail, so they're not tied to the same ISP forever. Use Thunderbird and IMAP to get at GMail, or convince them to use the web interface instead. The point is to not have emails stored on the desktop.

3) Use Google Docs as the primary office tool and OpenOffice as a backup. Upload all MP3s to Psonar or similar music storage service. Use DropBox to store pictures and other important small files.

At this point they completely rely on free software, their docs, music and emails are stored online, everything else is done via their favourite web browser.

Next time their OS dies or slows to a crawl, which it inevitably will, they can move to GNU/Linux or a Mac or whatever they like; the point is that they are completely from vendor lock-in.

I don't like the term "conversion". It suggests that you are manipulating people.

The key to having a successful experience with Linux is in choosing the right distribution. Most people have a low tolerance for frustration and are likely to turn back to something familiar when the going gets rough. They need to check out several distributions and find the right one before installing. Fortunately there is no shortage of choice and Live CDs are a great option for trying out something new without messing up their old OS. That in itself is a great statement about Linux. It shows that we are unique, flexible and diverse.

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